Balancing-machine.



J. RIDDBLL.

BALANGIN G MACHINE. A'PPLIoATIoN 'FILED MAR. 1. 1905'.

Patented 1111.131, 1914 1909 LZ'S.

UNITED sTATEsrATENT orruon.

JoHN ampara., orscHENEc'rA'DYQNEw YORK, assIeNon` 'ro vGENE-mir. minerale.I

COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NEW Yeux.

iALANcINe-MACHINE.

ibamos.

Specication of Letters Pateont. Patented Mal'. 31, 1914:;

- Application -tiled' March 1, 1905. Serial No. 247,909.

ancing rotative bodies ofy a character that,

require to be balanced with utmost precision, as for example bucket wheels for elastic fluid turbines. Such bodies. are intended to have high angular velocities and unless they are perfectly balanced rotation is attended with more or less vibration,

which at operative speeds may be enormous and prohibitive.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of the static-balancing type which will be thoroughly reliable for balancing bucket wheels or similar bodies, and with which extremely rapid balancingcan be,

done.

In static balancing machines, as. commonly used, the body to be balanced is mounted on a horizontal shaft which bears upon parallel ways or rollers. Mounted in this 'position the body is free to oscillate.

The condition of balance is determined by moving the body from its position of rest i to enlise it to oscillate, and then not-ing the position into which it settles. This is repeated two or more times, and if the body is out'of balance it returns approximately to the same position each time it is disturbed, thus indicating the location of the heavy part, which-gravitates to the lowest point. Knowing the location of the heavy portion, the object is to balance this by properly varying the distribution of the mass. which is a matter of trial. Weight -is added or subtracted at the proper point or points, and the condition of balance again determined by oscillating the wheel and noting" the position of rest, as before. AThis process may have to be, an f usually is, carried out `a number vof time before perfect balance is obtained. While very good results may be obtained with this method' of balancing, the main objection thereto is the length of time required to perform the complete operation, clue to the fact that the sum total of the oscillations constitutes a cnsiderable time element, which rendersy the operation expensive. v

With my invention this objection, is successfully overcome, and very accurate and` almost instantaneous indications as to` the condition of balance can be obtained. This is accomplished by supporting the wheel or body to be balanced'inI a horizontal plane with its axis vertical, and permitting the wheel to be tilted or depressed in any direction, according to the position of the heavy point. Supported in this manner it is necessary for 'eliminating oscillations thatl provision be made for-limiting the tilting movement and quickly arresting motion of the wheel, thereby reducing the time required fto make an indication.

In the practical embodiment of the invention, I employ a horizontal table which s mounted upon an upright pivot and is capable of universal movement thereon. The wheel is mounted centrally on the table, preferably on a removable holder which is especially adapted for the particular size of wheel to be balanced. A convenient form of holder is av sleeve which fits a centralv shoulder or boss .provided on the table, its upper end being shouldered to tit snugly in the shaft opening of the bucket-wheel.

.A number of holders are provided for the K machine, which are adaptedto be employed interchangeably for wheels of different sizes.

Theypivot is arranged on a supporting column or frame, and the table is mounte in such a position that the upper end of the column, which is preferably cylindrical or annular,'is juxtaposed to the table and 4serves as an abutment or vrest for limiting the tilting movement of the table. In order to prevent excessive movement of the table and to maintain it central during the mounting or dismounting ofthe wheel,"or during the process of adding or subtracting mass, the table is adapted to be held relatively stationary. For this purpose I provide means whereby the oint of support for the table can.be rea ily transferred from the normal position for balancing to an inoperative position and vice versa. This means comprises ar bearing pin of hard metal on which the table is adapted to be raised or lowered with respect-to the pivot for transferring the point of support. The

` is in normal lower end of the bearing pin is turned 'oif lat and rests upon the sphericalv end ofthe pivot which is also of hard metal. two surfaces are in engagement when the table is in normal balancing position and they form a bearing ofl relatively' small area of contact which permits universal movement with a minimum of friction. Adjacent the lower end of the bearing pin is a seat on the table which is yseparated from the pivot by a slight clearance when the table osition. When it is desired to hold the ta le relatively stationary it is lowered on the bearing until the seat engages with the pivot, thereby transferring the point of support from the bearing pin' to the seat. The movement of the, table is accomplished by means of a screw arranged in the table and impinging upon the upper end of the pin so thatby rotating the screw the operator can either r'aise or lower the table. y

The extent of the tilting of the table, due to the 4unbalanced mass of the wheel,'is detel-mined by an indicatingmechanism located in the supporting column and exposed tol view. This mechanism comprises a pendant arm rigidly secured to the table and eX- tending centrally of the column to a point adjacent the base thereof where it is attached to a needle or pointer whichis acvtu'ated thereby. The needle is mounted tol have universal movement, andthe point or lower end thereof isadapted to move over 'a circular dial arranged at the base of the supporting column. The fulcrum of the pointer or needle is adjacent the upper end, so that the range of movement of the point of the needle is relatively much larger-,than that of the upper end. In other words, the needle multiplies the angular movement of .the table, so. that very delicate indications can be obtained. With this arrangement, it will be noted that the table settles at the point where the heavy portion of the wheel is located. This throws the arm to the side of the center line opposite to that on which the heavy point of the wheel is located. The arm in turn swings the needle so that its lower end points to thel saine side of the center line on which the heavy portion of the -wheel is located, thus indicating directly the position ofthe heavy point.

In. using the machine, the table 'isiirst lowered so that the seat thereof will rest on the pivot and the wheel is placed in osition by means of the Shop crane, or ot erwise. The table with the wheel thereon is then raised from the seat and the point of support transferred to the bearing pin to support the tablefreely on the pivot. When the wheel is ontof balance the tablesettles at a point in line with the heavy portion and immediately comes to rest on the abutment without oscillation. This movement actu- These ter the mass is applied'jthe table is raised andl the yposition ofthe needle on the dial is ascertained. 4This procedure is repeated with masses of different weight until a condition :is reached where the needle coincides exactly with the center of the scale, which indicates perfect balance.

For an understanding of the details of construction, reference 'is to be had to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, while the novel features will be defined in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention,

Figure l is a central vertical section of a" balancing machine and a turbine Wheel in position thereon;' Fig. 2 is a detail view of the dial of the indicating mechanism; and Fig. 3 is anenlarged vertical section of the pivotal bearing of the balancing table and the means for raising and lowering it.

f Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the stationary table-column, 6r stand of the machine; 2 the balancing table; 3 the stationary pivot or post upon which the table is mounted; 4 the bucket wheel arranged on the table; and 5 the indicating mechanism.

.' lhe column is a hollow frusto-conical-frame cast with a base-plate orsweb 6, and having a cylindrical or annular upper end -which forms an abutmentl or rest 7 for the table.l

The shaft portion of the .column is provided with openings 8y for exposing to view the indicating mechanism 5, which is arranged vwithin the column. .Supported in the upper end of the'column on an interior flange 9 is an arch-shaped bridge-piece 10, which is bolted or otherwise secured at its base to the flange. Mounted centrally on the bridge-piece is the upright post or pivot 3. The pivot is provided With .a threaded shank 12 which screws into va tapped central bore in the bridge-piece. y

The table 2 comprises an annular plate 13 which is provided with a circumferential` shoulder 14 that overhangs the annular abutment 7 with which it Ais 'adapted to engage. The table is formed with a central tubular extension 15 in which the pivot 3 is disposed, ample clearance being. provided between the inner wall of the extension and the pivot to enable the table to tilt. The meansy for supporting the table on the pivot comprises a bearing pin 16 arranged in a bushing 17. The bushing is fitted in an opening 18 in the upper end of the extension and it supports the table by means of an annular shoulder 19, Fig. 3. The' bearing pin is turned o flat at its lower end and is ada-pted to bear upon the spherical surface 20 at the upper end ofthe pivot .3. This constitutes the pointof support when the table is in `balancing position. The lower end of the bushing is provided with a conical seat 17a which is adapted to engage with the pivot when the table is to be held relatively stationary. In order to transfer the point of support from the lower end of the bearing pin to the seat or bearing 17, or vice versa, the bushing with the table is movable longitudinallyof 'the pin.v For this purpose a screw 21 is-arranged in the bushing with its inner end impinging upon the bearing pin so that by turning the screw inwardly the bushing and table are raised and the seat 17a arrangement giving ent sized shaft openings.

moved away from the pivot'. By turning the screw outwardly the bushing and table arey lowered and the seat moved into engagement with the pivot, thereby removing the point of support from the bearing pin. As the seat is conicalthe table is maintained in central-position on the pivot so that when the point of support is transferred again to the pin the latter will bear centrally on the pivot. To actuate the screw the head thereof is provided with an opening 22 for receiving an operating bar or lever.

The base of then tubular extens1on of the table forms a cylindrical shoulder 23, on

which a removable holder 24 for the wheel is assembled. /This holder is preferably a sleeve having an inner diameter corresponding to that of the shoulder to snugly fit the same. The upper end of the sleeve is reduced to form a surface or shoulder upon which the bucket-wheel rests, and the reduced spindle portion fits snugly inthe shaft 4opening 25 of the wheel.' In order to adapt the machine for balancing wheels of di'erent sizes interchangeable holders are employed. These differ from one another only in lrespect to the diameter of the reduced portion at their upper ends so as to fit differlt is to be noted that the shoulder of the holder is located at such a point that when the wheel is placed thereon the center plane of the wheel coin, cides with the pivotal point of the table, this the best balancing effect in practice.

'lhe indicating mechanism comprises a pendant arm 26 which is secured to the under side of thebalancing table and extends centrally therefrom. The armv is attached to the table by -an intermediate saddle-piece 27, which straddles the bridgepiece and is bolted or otherwise secured to the table. The saddle-piece is providedwith a central boss 28 having a tapped opening intowhich the upper end of the arm screws. The lower end of the arm is connected with a needle'or pointer 29 through a slip or balland-socket joint 30. The pointer is mounted over a'circular dial 31 in a. bearing plate 32,

mechanism preliminary to balancing a' wheel, and in vorder to do this, the dial is adjustable. Set screws 3-'1 are employed for this purpose which are arranged in an upright circular flange 35 formed on the baseplate, and they engage the periphery of the dial lat three o1; more points. f

The balancin operation is as follows: The table being in its lowered position, that is to say, the seat resting on the pivot, the wheel to'be balanced is placed on the holder. Itis necessary first to test the relation of the pointer to the dial, or in other words, to calibrate the machine with the wheel in position. This is done by noting the various positions the pointer'will take when the wheel is turned about its axis to successive positions,.-say about. 45 degrees apart.

During this operation the pointer will -dey scribe a circle, the center'of which should at rest, c., in its lowered position, and then the table is raised so as torest freely on 'theyY pivot. The position of the pointer with respect to the center of the dial is carefully noted `to ascertain if the mass is underl or over weight. In either case the mass isv alsol tered and the test repeated, and this process is carried on repeatedly until a condition of balance is .reached where the point of the needle coincides with the center of the dial,

and this in every position which the tablel are loosely placed'in position and the balance determmed. If the plates are too light heavier ones are employed. If too 'heavy they are removed'and filed away until the proper weight is finally obtained, when they are then riveted permanently to the wheel, on opposite surfaces as sho'wn. It will be noted that with the method of balancing Aabove described, -thefindications are obtained very quickly as. oscillations of the wheel are entirely eliminated, hence the total time required for balancingthe wheel as v compared with the method hitherto in practice is greatly reduced.

In'accordance with the .provisions of the patent statutes,v I have describedl the principle of operation of my invention, together with the'apparatus which I now consider to representv the best embodiment thereoffibut- I desire to vhave it understood that the a'pparatus shown is only illustrative, an'd that the invention can be carried out by other What I claim as new and desire-to secure ov LettersPatent of the UnitedStates, is:

l. In a balancing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a vbalancing table,means on said table for carrying .the body to be balanced, said table bein mounted on the frame so as to be universa ly mov- `able about a 'vertical axis, an indicating mechanism mounted on the frame and means for transmittin'gmovements of. said table t said indicating mechanism. 2. In a lbalancing machine,',the combination of a supporting frame, a balancing table for the work to be balanced, a vertical pivot mounted on-the frameon which the table is universally movable, anv'abutnient for limiting the movement of the table, and. an indicating mechanism moved by the table.

'3. In a balancing machine, the combination of a supportingvcolumn, a balancingtable centrally .pivoted thereon to have .universal movement meansv for 'limiting the movement of the table, and an indicating mechanism mountedon-the column at one side of the normal vplane of the table and means for transmitting movements of said table tosaid indicating mechanism whereby said indicating mechanism isv responsive to the movements of said table.

4. In a balancing machine, the combination of a' supporting column, a loalarming' table' for holding the body to be balanced, auniversal bearing between them, an abutment formed on th? movement of the table, andan indicating mechanism arranged in the 'column and moved by the table. l l

5. In a balancing machine, the combination of a supporting column,a central pivot' mounted on the same, a universally movable table supported on the pivot', an abutment for the table which is disposed.ad]a cent to column for limiting the the eriphery of the same, and an indicating mec anism connected with the table for indicating its movements.

6. In a balancing machine, the .combination of a supporting column, a vertical pivot on the column, a universally movable table v mounted on the pivot which table is disposed horizontally, a holder for the body to be balanced which is centrally arranged J on the table, and an indicating mechanism for determining the condition of balance of the body which is actuated by the table as it and tion of balance of the body which is actuated by the table as it and the body tilt about the pivot due to the unbalanced condi,- tion of said body'. A

8. 'In a balancing machine, the combination of asupport, a table universally movable thereon, a holder for the lbody to n be balanced which holder is removably mounted on the table, and universally movable indicating mechanismfassociated with the table vfor indicating the condition of balance of,P

the body'. l 9. In -a balancing machine, the combination of a support, `a table pivotally mounted.

thereon, a central shoulder on the table, -a holder or sleeve fitted on the shoulder for indicating mechanism movedby theY table. 10. .Ina balancing machine, the combination of a support,a .balancing table proj supporting the body to be balanced', vand an vided with a tubulai-` exte'nsion, a pivot on the supportwhich is disposed 'Within lthe tubular extension and forms a universal .bearing for the table, and an; indicating'l mechanism moved bythe table. v

11. In a balancing machine, the combination of a supporting column, a balancing table'having an extension formed thereon, a bearing-pin arranged in the extension, a vertical pivot supported by the column upon which the bearing pin rests to permit universal movement of the table, and an indicating mechanism moved bythe table.

12, vIn a balancing machine, the combina-` tion ofa supporting column, a balancing table, an extension provided on the table, a bearing` arranged in the extension, a pivot supported by the column and engaging the said bearing, an abutment for limiting the movement of the table, and an indicating mechanism -moved by the table 13. In a balancing machine, the combination of a supporting column provided with an abutment at its upper end, a balancing table, a pivot supported by the column, a'

bearing pin carried by the table which supports the latter on the pivot in coperative relation to the abutment, a bearing or seat on the table, means for moving the table to transfer the point of support from the bearing pin to the seat, or vice versa, and an indicating mechanism connected with the table, which comprises a pointer, a member on the table for actuating the pointer, and a connection between the member and pointer which permits the table to be moved with respect to the pointer.

14. In a balancing machine, the combination of a supporting column provided with an abutment at its upper end, a verticalv pivot supported onthe column, a balancing table resting on the pivot and disposed in cooperative relation to the abutment, meansfor holding the table in a relatively stationary and central position on the pivot, and an indicating mechanism, comprising a pointer, an arm on the table, and a slip joint between the pointer and the arm. A

15. In a balancing machine, the combination of a supporting column provided with an annular abutment, a vertical pivot on the column, a balancing table supported by the pivot and adjacent to the abutment, a bearing pin between the table and the pivot, means for holding the table in a relatively stationary and central position on the pivot, means for raising and lowering the table on the bearing pin for moving it into or out of engagement with the said means, and an indicating mechanism which is moved by the table.

16. In a balancing machine, the combination of a supporting column, a vertical pivot carried thereby, a balancing table having an upright extension, an abutment forlimiting the tilting of the table, a bearing pin on the extension which supports the table on the pivot, a bushing for the pin carried by the extension, a conical seat on the bushing which is adapted to engage with the pivot to hold the table relatively stationary andA central on thev pivot, a screw operatingv through the pin for moving the seat into and out o engagement with the ivot, and an indicating mechanism mova le with 4the table.

17. In a balancing machine, the combination of a Isupporting column, a universally movable balancing table thereon, means on said table for holding the article to be balanced, a bearing on the column for said table, and an indicating mechanism arranged within the column and actuated by the table.

18. In a balancing machine, the combination of a supporting column, a pivotal bearin on the column, a universally movable v'ba ancing table mounted thereon, an arm atthe arm, and a dial arranged in coperative relation to the pointer.

19.' In a balancing machine, the combina tion of a supporting column, a universally movable balancing table thereon, a central pendant arm vsecured to the table, apointer supported on the base of the column which multiplies` the angular movement of the table, a universal bearing for the pointer, a universal connection between. the pointer and arm, a dial arranged in coperative relation to the pointer, and means for adjusting thedial.

20. In a balancing machine, the combina-- tion of a balancing table, a universal bearing for the table, comprising a spherical surface and a flat surface engaging with each other, and an indicating mechanism actuated by the table.

21. In a balancing machine, the combination of a balancing table, a universal bearing for the table comprising a spherical surface and a flat surface, means for moving the sur- ,spherical surface and a flat surface, a seat adjacent the bearing with which the spherical surface may engage, and means coperatingr` with the bearing members vwhich transfers the support of the table 1from the iat surface to the seat and vice versa.

23. In a balancing machine, the combinationV of a supporting member, a balancing table, a pivot member carried by said balancing table,l a pivot member carried by said supporting member, said pivot members coperating `-to form a universally movable bearing for the balancing-table, indicating mechanism mounted on saidV supporting member below said table, and means for transmitting the movements of said table to said indicating mechanism.

24. In a Static balancing machine, vthe combination of a supporting column, a single pivot on the column, a table for receiving the body to be balanced and which is ccntrally mounted for universal movementon said pivot, and mechanism which is actuated as the table and body tilt about the pivot for indicatin the extent to which the body is out of ba ance.

25. In a,f balancing machine, the combination of a vertically disposed j supporting column, a pivot centrally mounted on the` upper portion of said column and provided with a spherical bearing surface, a balancing table, a pin-centrally mounted for sliding movement in the table and prov'ded with a flat bearing surface at its lower end which engages with said spherical surface, a screw mounted in thetable and engaging the upper I bearing at a point intermediate its vends, there being a socket in the lower end of the arm with which the upper end of the pointer is in sliding and pivotal engagement, and a dial arranged adjacent the lower en'd of the pointer.

26. In a balancing device, a stationary table or support, a movable table supported thereon so as to be capable ofI tilting in all directions relatively thereto, said movable table having an upper surface for supporting the article to be balanced, a spindle ex tending downward -from the movable table, and means for multiplying the movement of said spindle.

27. In a balancing device, stationary table, a movable table supported thereon so l as to be capable ,of tilting in all directions, said movable table having an upper surface for supporting the article to be balanced, an indicating rod or needle mounted for unidicating means.

movable table, a universal bearing support-l ing the table on the frame or support and permitting a -universal" movement table, means onv the upper surface of said table for supporting the article to ybe balanced, means for indicatin the move-` ment of the table and means or. transmitting the movements of said table to said in- 29. In a balancing machine, the combination of. a stationary frame, a movable table .for supporting the article to be balanced, a

universal'bearin'g supporting the table on `the frame and permitting a universal tilting movement vof said table, and means for temporarily preventing tilting' of4 the table in any direction. c In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of February, 1905.

JOHN RIDDELL.

Witnesses :l

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HEIEN ORFORD.'

vof said A 

